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savant

noun/səˈvænt/

definition

a person with profound mental disabilities who exhibits exceptional skill in a specific area

example

Despite his challenges, the young man was a musical savant, able to play complex compositions by ear after hearing them just once.

synonyms
prodigytalentgenius
word origin — from French 'savant', meaning 'one who knows', from the Latin 'sapere', meaning 'to be wise'

savant, slack, shunt, skiff, stickler: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from GRE Vocabulary set 194. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. savant · noun/səˈvænt/

    a person with profound mental disabilities who exhibits exceptional skill in a specific area

    Despite his challenges, the young man was a musical savant, able to play complex compositions by ear after hearing them just once.

    Synonyms: prodigy, talent, genius

    Origin: from French 'savant', meaning 'one who knows', from the Latin 'sapere', meaning 'to be wise'

  2. slack · noun/slæk/

    looseness or lack of tension in something

    Make sure there is enough slack in the rope before you start climbing, or else it might snap if you put too much tension on it.

    Synonyms: looseness, give, relaxation

    Origin: Middle English 'slak', from Old English 'slæc', meaning 'loose, slack'.

  3. shunt · noun/ʃʌnt/

    a device for diverting or redirecting the flow of fluid or electrical current

    The engineers installed a bypass shunt to redirect the coolant flow in the reactor system during maintenance.

    Synonyms: diverter, bypass, conduit

    Origin: The word 'shunt' originates from the Old English 'scyndan', meaning to 'divide' or 'separate'.

  4. skiff · noun/skɪf/

    a small, lightweight boat designed for sailing or rowing

    The fishermen set out early in the morning in their sturdy skiff to catch the day's haul.

    Synonyms: dinghy, rowboat, canoe

    Origin: The word 'skiff' originates from Middle Dutch 'schif,' meaning 'ship or boat.'

  5. stickler · noun/ˈstɪk.lɚ/

    a person who insists on a precise adherence to rules or details

    As a stickler for detail, Janet double-checked every report before submission to ensure accuracy.

    Synonyms: perfectionist, stick, nitpicker

    Origin: from the verb 'stickle', meaning to argue or dispute over something; of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle English 'sticklen' or 'stiklen', which means to argue.